Specimen collector



April 15, 1969 0. H, KARIHER ET AL 3,438,366

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United States Patent 3,438,366 SPECIMEN COLLECTOR Donald H. Kariher andThomas W. Smith, Rochester,

N.Y., assignors to Hollister Incorporated, a corporation of IllinoisContinuation-impart of application Ser. No. 523,436, Jan. 27, 1966. Thisapplication July 25, 1966, Ser.

Int. Cl. A61b /00 US. Cl. 1282 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Acervical canal specimen collector including a hollow tube having anupturned end. A piston near the outer upturned end of the tube ismovable manually from a first position where it closes the end of thetube to provide for ease of insertion of the device, to a position drawnwithin the tube to draw fluids within the tube for subse quentmicroscopic inspection. Additionally, a probe may be carried by theouter end of the piston, which probe may penetrate further into theorgans involved and at the same time, when withdrawn, scrapecell-carrying fluids from adjacent tissue for subsequent examination.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending applicationSerial No. 523,436 filed January 27, 1966, (now abandoned).

This invention relates to a specimen collector and more particularly toa specimen collector particularly adapted to withdraw fluids from thecervical canal.

It is a general object of the .present invention to produce a new andimproved cervical canal specimen collector of the character described.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a specimencollector easily insertable into the cervical canal and usable to obtaina specimen of the fluids therein and subsequently to eject the fluid formicroscopic examination.

In recent years a widely used method of detecting early uterine cancerhas been employed by gynecologists. This test is often referred to asthe Pap smear test and it has consisted of obtaining a sample of cellsofl the outer surface of the vaginal portion of the cervix formicroscopic and other examination. The most commonly used specimencollector has been a simple wooden paddle which is inserted at thedesired location and then re moved, and the material clinging thereto isprocessed for further examination. One of the limitations of this methodis that the material clinging to the paddle has been limited to thatwhich is immediately adjacent the opening of the cervical canal. Assloughed material indicative of uterine cancer may linger in the upperregions of the cervical canal for some time, physicians have beenseeking ways of obtaining specimens of the fluid present in such higherregions in order to make a more thorough and complete gynecologicalexamination.

One method for obtaining specimens from such higher regions has been touse a device provided with bristles, which is inserted into the uterinecavity with the thought that fluid in such hgher regions will adhere tothe bristles. For the most part, this method has been discarded as toodangerous as a routine otfice procedure.

Another method for obtaining specimens of cervical fluid is to use abulb attached to a tube, which is inserted into the cervical canal, andwith suction draw fluid into the end of the tube. One of thedifliculties encountered with this method is that the cervical fluid isvery thick and will tenaciously cling to the side of the tube PatentedApr. 15, 1969 so that it cannot be expelled from the tube by blowing airfrom the bulb through the tube.

According to the present invention, however, there is provided acervical canal specimen collector which can be safely and easilyinserted into the cervical canal and moved the desired distance upwardlytherein and when so positioned can positively effect a withdrawal of thefluid present in such upper regions. Furthermore, after the device hasbeen withdrawn, the fluid collected therein can be positively dischargedfrom the collector for subsequent examination.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following description and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cervical canal specimen collectormade in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 3--3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of a specimencollector made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section taken along the line 10--10 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 8.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail two embodiments of the invention, with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will bepointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5, the specimen collector 10comprises a tube 11, preferably made of plastic or the like and beingstraight throughout the greater portion of its length but having anupturned end at its outer extremity. The inner portion of the tube 11 isenlarged as at 13 forming therein a cylindrical chamber 14. integrallyformed on the outer surface of the enlarged portion 13 are finger grips15 to assist in the manipulation of the device.

Reciprocably mounted Within the chamber 14 is a plunger 16 generallyX-shaped in cross section as shown in FIG. 5. A piston 17 is positionedadjacent the outer end 12 of the rod with the piston being provided witha rounded outer portion 18 and with seals 19 sealingly engaging theinner surfaces of the tube portion 12. A piston rod 20 is secured at oneend to the piston 17 and at its other end to the plunger 16.

A manually engageable member 21 positioned exteriorly of the enlargedportion 13 is secured to the plunger 16 so that movement of the member21 serves to move the plunger, the piston rod, and hence the piston.

In use, the device is in the position shown in the drawings, i.e., withthe piston 17 located at its outermost position so that its rounded end18 protrudes or projects beyond the end of the curved portion of thetube. When so positioned, there is provided a closed-end bluntinstrument easily insertable into the cervical canal without causingeither injury or discomfort. When so inserted, the member 21 is movedoutwardly to draw the piston back into the tube and such movement,because of the seals 19, draws by suction cervical canal fluid into thethus open end of the tube. The depth of penetration of the end 12 intothe cervical canal is limited by a disc 22 secured to the end 12 asshown.

When the specimen collector is then withdrawn, the fluids collected maybe forcibly and positively ejected from the tube by moving the member 21to its original position and moving the piston outwardly to the open endof the tube. It will be realized, of course, that all fluids are thusfully removed from the tube for further examination.

Referring now to the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.6-11, the specimen collector comprises a cylindrical outer tube providedwith alternately spaced openings 31 on opposite sides thereof. Theopenings are provided merely to adapt the outer tube to a configurationwhich is easily molded by injection molding techniques as presentlyknown. The outer tube 30 is provided with an upturned end portion 32integrally connected to a straight portion 33. Secured within theupturned portion 32 of the outer tube 30 is a hollow inner tube 34. Atthe opposite end of the outer tube 30 is a pair of finger grips 35 tofacilitate handling of the device.

Located within the hollow tube 34 is a piston 36 provided with aplurality of rings 37 providing a close fit with the interior surface ofthe tube 34. The piston 36 terminates in a rounded end portion 38 fromwhich extends an axial probe 39 terminating in a rounded end 40 butformed, as shown in the drawings, in a general umbrella shape so as toprovide the annular shoulder 41 for the purposes hereinafter described.The piston 36 is secured to a piston rod 42 which extends through theouter tube 30 and outwardly therefrom, and a finger ring 43 is securedto the outer end thereof as shown for the purpose of moving the pistonrod and hence the piston within the tubes.

A disc of clear plastic 44 is secured to the hollow tube as is agenerally wedge-shaped stop or catch member 45.

In assembling the device, the hollow tube 34 is inserted within theupturned end of the outer tube 30 until the disc 44 is seated againstthe end of said outer tube, at which time the wedge-shaped lock or catch45 will have passed just into an opeing 31a in the outer tube, thuslocking the hollow tube securely in position within the outer tube. Thepiston rod 42, piston 36, and probe 39 are integrally formed of a singlepiece of flexible plas tic which then may be inserted through thestraight end of the outer tube to complete the assembly.

The deviec shown in FIGS. 6-11 is used generally similarly to thespecimen collector previously described. Upon insertion, the piston rodis withdrawn to position the parts in the manner shown in FIG. 8 therebyproviding a rounded end for insertion into the cervical canal. The cleardisc serves to determine the amount of penetration and yet permits thephysician to observe the insertion as it is taking place. When inserted,the finger portion 43 is moved toward the outer tube to cause the pistonand probe to move to the position shown in FIG. 9. The probe at thistime will have penetrated substantially through the cervical canal andinto the uterus and when withdrawn (by outward movement of the fingerportion 43) the probe 39 will not only collect additional fluids, theedge portions 41 serve to scrape fluids from the surrounding tissue thusincreasing the volume of the specimen obtained as well as securing fluidfrom the uterine area. Withdrawal of the piston rod also withdraws thepiston and the suction thereby created pulls in additional fluid fromthe surrounding area. When the parts are returned to the position shownin FIG. 9, the outer end of the probe serves something as a shield toprevent loss of fluid withdrawn into the inner hollow tube and then thespecimen collector may be withdrawn from the vagina and the specimenobtained submitted for examination.

It will be seen from the foregoing that we have provided a cervicalcanal specimen collector which can be inexpensively made, to the extentthat it can be of the throw away type after use, and yet one which ismore efficient than the collectors presently available for collectingand ejecting a proper fluid specimen.

We claim:

1. A cervical canal specimen collector comprising an outer tube having astraight portion and an upturned end portion, a hollow tube positionedwithin the end portion of the outer tube, a piston in the hollow tubeadjacent the outer end thereof, a piston rod connected at one end ofsaid piston and extending through said hollow tube and out of the otherend of said outer tube, a probe on the outer end of the piston andextending axially therefrom, said probe having an inner portion ofsmaller diameter than said hollow tube and an outer end of largerdiameter than the inner portion, said probe being movable in the hollowtube by said piston rod from a first position wherein the outer end ofthe probe projects slightly beyond the outer end of the hollow tube topro vide a closed blunt instrument for insertion into the cervical canalto a second position, moving the piston rod toward the terminus of saidhollow tube and moving the probe outwardly therefrom and to a thirdposition with drawing the probe within said hollow tube and moving thepiston therewith to draw fluid from the canal into the hollow tube, anda manually actuable member connected to the other end of the piston rodfor moving the piston from said first to said second and then to saidthird position.

2. A cervical canal specimen collector comprising an outer tube having astraight portion and an upturned end portion, a hollow tube positionedwithin the end portion of the outer tube and having a portion extendingbeyond the terminus of said end portion, a piston in the hollow tube andclosely fitting the interior thereof, a probe on the outer end of thepiston and extending axially therefrom, scraping means adjacent theouter end of the probe, a piston rod connected at one end to the pistonand extending through the hollow tube and the outer tube, said pistonbeing movable in the hollow tube by said rod from a first positionwherein the outer end of the probe projects slightly beyond the outerend of the hollow tube to provide a closed blunt instrument forinsertion into the cervical canal to a second position, moving thepiston rod toward the terminus of said hollow tube and moving the probeoutwardly therefrom and to a third position withdrawing the probe withinsaid hollow tube to draw fluid from the canal into the hollow tube, anda manually actuable member connected to the other end of the piston rodfor moving the piston from said first to said second and then to saidthird position.

3. A cervical canal specimen collector comprising an outer tube having astraight portion and an upturned end portion, a hollow tube positionedwithin the end portion of the outer tube and having a portion extendingbeyond the terminus of said end portion, a piston in the hollow tube andclosely fitting the interior thereof, a probe on the outer end of thepiston and extending axially therefrom said probe terminating in arounded portion having an umbrella-shaped outer portion having acircumferential scraping edge, a piston rod connected at one end to thepiston and extending through the hollow tube and the outer tube, saidpiston being movable in the hollow tube by said rod from a firstposition wherein the outer end of the probe projects slightly beyond theouter end of the hollow tube to provide a closed blunt instrument forinsertion into the cervical canal to a second position moving the pistonrod toward the terminus of said hollow tube and moving the probeoutwardly therefrom and to a third position withdrawing the probe withinsaid hollow tube to draw fiuid from the canal into the hollow tube, anda manually actuable member connected to the other end of the piston rodfor moving the piston from said first to said second and then to saidthird position.

4. A cervical canal specimen collector comprising an outer tube having astraight portion and an upturned end portion, a hollow tube positionedwithin the end portion of the outer tube and having a portion extendingbeyond the terminus of said end portion, a disc of transparent plasticsecured to the hollow tube, a locking member secured to the hollow tubespaced from the disc thereon whereby said hollow tube may be inserted inthe upturned end of said outer tube until said locking member engages anopening in said outer tube and the disc engages the terminus of the endportion of said outer tube to secure said hollow tube in position insaid end portion, a piston in the hollow tube and closely fitting theinterior thereof, a probe on the outer end of the piston and extendingaxially therefrom, scraping means adjacent the outer end of the probe, apiston rod connected at one end to the piston and extending through thehollow tube and 6 the outer tube, said piston being movable in thehollow tube by said rod from a first position wherein the oute end ofthe probe projects slightly beyond the outer cm of the hollow tube toprovide a closed blunt instrumen for insertion into the cervical canalto a second position moving the piston rod toward the terminus of saidhol low tube and moving the probe outwardly therefrom ant to a thirdposition Withdrawing the probe Within sail hollow tube to draw fluidfrom the canal into the hollov tube, and a manually actuable memberconnected to th! other end of the piston rod for moving the piston fronsaid first to said second and then to said third position ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,839,049 6/1958 MacLean 128I 3,088,4545/1963 Shute 128-: 3,135,260 6/1964 Hamilton l28-21l WILLIAM E. KAMM,Primary Examiner.

